2. Classification of synonyms

Taking into account the difference of synonyms by the three aspects of their meaning they may be classified into stylistic, ideographic and ideographic-stylistic synonyms.

1) Stylistic synonymy implies no interchangeability in context because the underlying situations are different, for example, children – infants, dad – father. Stylistic synonyms are similar in the denotational aspect of meaning, but different in the pragmatic (and connotational) aspect. Substituting one stylistic synonym for another results in an inadequate presentation of the situation of communication.

2) Ideographic synonymy presents a still lower degree of semantic proximity and is observed when the connotational and pragmatic aspects are similar, but there are certain differences in the denotational aspect of meaning of two words, for example, forest – woods, apartment – flat, shape – form. Though ideographic synonyms correspond to one and the same referential area, i.e. denote the same thing or a set of closely related things, they are different in the denotational aspect of the meaning and their interchange would result in a slight change of the phrase they are used in.

3) Ideographic-stylistic synonymy is characterized by the lowest degree of semantic proximity. This type of synonyms includes synonyms which differ both in the denotational and connotational and / or pragmatic aspects of meaning, for example, ask – inquire, expect – anticipate. If the synonyms in questions have the same patterns of grammatical and lexical valency, they can still hardly be considered interchangeable in context.

Each synonymic group comprises a dominant element – synonymic dominant, which is the most general term potentially containing the specific features rendered by all the other members of the synonymic group. In this series leave – depart – quit – retire – clear out the verb leave, being general and both stylistically and emotionally neutral, can stand for each of the other four terms. The other four can replace leave only when some specific semantic component prevails over the general notion. For example, when it is necessary to stress the idea of giving up employment and stopping work quit is preferable because in this word this particular notion dominates over the more general idea common to the whole group.

2.3. Euphemisms

Euphemism is the substitution of words of mild or vague connotations for expressions rough, unpleasant. Euphemism is sometimes figuratively called ‘a white-washing device’. Euphemism is used to replace an unpleasant word or expression by a conventionally more acceptable one. For example, the word to die has the following euphemisms: to expire, to pass away, to depart, to join the majority, to kick the bucket, etc; pregnant – in the family way.

Euphemisms are words or expressions that speakers substitute for taboo words in order to avoid a direct confrontation with topics that are embarrassing, frightening, or uncomfortable: God, the devil, sex, death, money, war, crime, or religion. These topics seem to be cross-cultural. A linguistic consequence of cultural taboos is the creation of euphemisms. The euphemism as a linguistic phenomenon shows no signs of disappearing.